[Sunbeam Talbot Email List] progress, floor pan, electrics, and what is this green puddle?

[wes.stewart at sunbeamsaloon.com]

The small floor pan is now removed and set aside for cleaning and sorting.
Tires are back from the shop with smooth sidewalls facing out. The service guy says "one of the rims is really warped" and as it turns out, really is. My gripe is that he had my phone number. Why not call me to ask for the spare rim? Perhaps its not bent.
 Finding a company that will straighten stell rims is turning out to be difficult. I was hoping to avoid heavy shipping charges, but the wheel folks that are local only do the job with alloy rims. (sigh)

Brake inspection shows nice shoes and no wheel cylinder leaks, BTW.

In a conversation with Grover Behrens (advertisement in the Stardust) he said he has a fiberglass supplement to the floorpan that makes a very proper cover for the transmission. He's sending pictures which I will pass along to the list.

As the last bit of floor panel comes off, I notice a green puddle under the car. Wonderful... a water leak. Not from the water pump, not from the radiator. Turns out to be the front freeze plug. This does not look like a freeze plug I have dealt with before. Is there anything special I need to know? I was going to knock it out by punching a small hole, then prise it out or the like. Replacement will be one of the rubber compression models with which I have had very good luck on other cars. At a point where I have the manifolds off, I'll likely put an OEM style in. Any advise on these plugs?

So I am under the front of the car and notice a baggie tucking the corner next to the steering box. Contraband? No, is abag of bodged electrical connections: half Lucas bullets, half cheap crimp-on junk, and each juction wrapped in sticky, gooey gaffer's tape. Oh, dear Lord.
Figuring out how to extract the harness and refurbish this mess goes high on the list of things to do. I loath electrical tape, but gaffers (duct) tape! 


Last topic today, the distributor. Substitute parts (e.g. TR2 cap) are suggested for the IIA and onward models, but I have a II and the Lucas model number for it (IAW the parts catalogue) is different. Anyone with experience on Mk II ignition, please help. Can/should a Mk III distributor be fitted if worst comes to worst?

Thanks as always for the valuable input.

Wes
Fate, 102 degrees, TX